Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-08-05


his eyes upon my face.
"Never mind!" he moaned. "Poo
Lyddv! Poor grip he patted m
hand fondly. 81 know you'd give
to me if you could. Ar, I've been
bad brother to yoa, Gear. Say yo
forgive me tonight"
Aud Of course | said so--said S
weeping. His mauuer distressed III
SC; but | did not know what tier
was to forgive.
Twas wiser before that biylhda,
was balf over, though the knowlsdg
seemed the greatest calamity Of liz.
life
Something Z has gone wrong at tn
bark" Harry told ne. lie broke th
bilter news to ME as gently as h
could, with a grave, pale face. Isl!
hundred pounds. which had been en-
trusted to Tom to deliver somew herr
several weeks ago, had not been ac
counted for, and-there were errors
too, iu his accounts"
| heard no more. Insensibility
snatchcd me for awhile from tht
agony of Toms ruin and my own dis
grace.
For must not his sister share hi>
dishonor? / felt that bitterly ct fifst
Il who had been so proud Of him
But by-and-by indignation, shame
anger, all gave place to love and loves
anxiety. Tom was missing.
What mattered it to me that be
bad sjnned? He was still my
brother, and / loved him.
| had not waited for that, however
before taking steps to shield him from
the conseQueL ces OF his crime.
Mr.. Hatton was merciful. lie had
no wish to bring public disgrace upon
the family of bis old friend upon the
girl whom bis own son was engaged
to marry.
| was permitted to make up the dc
felt ia the bank's accounts. In order
to do so, and for another reason, | in
structed my lawyers to dispose Of my
property. And that other reason
was u letter from Tom, received just
oue week from his departure.
A pitiful leiter-the cutlery of a
penitent and almost broken Heart
He bad not appropriated the six hun
dred pounds, thank God! but he had
been out and drinking with the
money in his possession, and had
been robbed OF it.
Oh, how grateful l was! Every
other misfortune in the world nigh;
be borne with patience now; since
Tenn was not dishonest.
He confessed to ME d thousand in.
discretions, follies, sins; told me OF
many and serious debts that be bad
left behind him. Most startling of
all, he told ne be was married., and
implored NE to SEX out aad protect
his wife and child
Toms wife and child. Who was
she? After tie first surprise was
over, l found myself longing to see
my new sister ard the littlo one.
| went to the address Tom had
cent me-went with carriage to
bring my relations home. Disap-
pointment met me. Mrs. Searle and
her child had gone.
"They were behind with their
rent" said the landlady, and the bns-
band went away, so L couldn't keep
her. She left to-day.
| returned home discouraged |
did not want to see or speak to any
one just then, so it was peculiarly
to fad that young woman
whom l had employed to do sewing
more than year ago, had called, and
was waiting TO see me.
] went down to ber. She arose to
meet me es | entered the paylor Lit
tie Eva Robinson! Remembered the
girl well-a pretty, gentle, timid crea-
ture.
[ started when | saw that she had
an infant in her arms.
"Why, what is this?" | cried.
"My baby she said, timidly.
"rve married since l saw you last,
miss"
II sat down, and bade her do the
same, aud then asked her what |
could do TO serve her.
For all answer she burst into a
passion of tears, and rising suddenly,
came and laid the infant in nv lap.
"Have mercy on mel" she cried,
falling on her knees. This is your
brothers child and mine, and II
am his wife"
I was proud girl. and this blow was
a heavy one. Ny brother, so hand
some, such favorite, so unfit for
wife and child-he might have mar
ried SO advantageously, | thought,
and here | was called upon to wei
come as sister my own sewing girl.
But | did. / may have shrunk
from her for an instant, perhaps in
the first surprise, but next minute the
thought of that other disgrace, which
Tom had not brought on himself aud
me, returned to me, aud in my graft
tude at escaping that | could not
murmur.
She was & dear little thing, too, af-
ter all; and the baby charming. All,
| had reason to be thankful for the
comfort of their presence soon. For
the very neyt day, meeting an ac-
qaintance in the street, she said:
"And SO | hear that your marriage
is postponed, my dear"
My heart sank down like lead.
"Who informed you?" | asked, qui-
city.
Your intended bridegroom, Mr..
Harry Hatton, himself. Is it not
true?n
"Perfectly true"
"And postponed until when?"
"Indeinitely."
| wrote the same day to Harry:
You desire your freedom; take it
You will never be called upon to full
fill your engagement with me-"
And he took me at my word.
He called, certainly, and made a
pretense of explanation aud regret
The almost entire loss OF my fortune
had influenced his father, not himself
but my brothers. conduct"
stopped him there. .
"Tom was innocent" | said; "and
what he lost | have restored. You
L L i 4 = IL.